San Andres

THIS SUNDAY
March 25
The 5th Sunday in Lent
8:00, 9:15 & 10:45
Bruce preaching:
”PARABLES OF THE LOST”
(The Waterloo Sermon)

7:00 PM
A Worship Celebration of St. Andrew’s in Nicaragua
Special Guests: Bishop Ann B. Sherer
Rev. Mark Struckhoff, U.S. Director, The Rainbow Network
Featuring A Video by Mark Van Kekerix
Lots of Great Music!
The Upward Basketball Cheerleaders have a special yell planned!!
PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART!!!
For more on this project, please check out the St. Andrew’s web site:
www.standrewsomaha.net, and click the San Andres link.
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PASTOR CHARLOTTE asks:Prayers for the family of Donald S., in his recent passing (friends of the Coleman family).
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During the first week in March, John A., Adrian A., Mark R. and Mark V.K. were in Nicaragua. We have invited them to share a few words about their experience:

MARK R.:
My trip to San Andres really opened my eyes as to the quality of work Rainbow Network is doing, the incredible spirit and genuine appreciation the Nicaraguan people exhibit and how God works in ways we struggle to understand. The folks in San Andres, Los Fierros, El Trapiche, Santa Lucia, San Isidro and La Trinidad were so materially poor that description is difficult; spiritually, however, they were overwhelming. People spoke openly of their faith in the Lord and how he was working through and watching over them. You and I would be hard-pressed to thank God for having so little, but not the Nicas. One of the discussions we had among ourselves (between bouncing through craters and ditches joined to be called “roads”) centered on what people consider a mission trip to be. Often, of course, we think that the object of such efforts is the conversion of those without a relationship with Jesus. In our experience, had that been our goal, we’d have been too late. You don’t take God to rural Nicaraguans, they bring Jesus to you. I know they did to me. I felt it.

Rainbow Network’s concept is slightly different than many missionary organizations. Their goal is to teach people to provide for themselves, and others, by providing funding for housing and business projects via loans that must be repaid. They assist the beneficiaries of their loan programs to help them be successful and, in turn, share their blessings with others. Of course, they also provide free medical care and feeding programs for children and pregnant or nursing mothers, but the focus of their efforts is to help entire communities improve by using their talents and faith to better themselves. We met some very proud people who have worked hard, understand the value of their accomplishments and are willing to share that with others. In El Crucero, Reyna showed us the metal and wood shack that she will be leaving once her new house is completed, pointing to the metal roof that was being eaten away as an effect of poisonous volcanic gases, then stood in her small flower garden to share her thanks. Mama Rosita, 69 years old, told us she had lived in the community all her life and her eyes shone as she talked of her 27 grandchildren and great-grandkids, saying, “The Lord has provided me strength and given me will,” while several children stood around her.

Several villagers then brought a young boy, Isaac, to us and said he was known as “the boy with the angelic voice” and “the voice of gold.” He loved to sing, his father was the village pastor and, they explained, he only sang religious songs. He stood alone, sang us a song and proved them right. His voice was wonderful. My eyes welled with tears and it was only two hours into our first day.

Rainbow Network feeds countless children the only healthy meal they eat each day. Rainbow provide much-needed medical care to the villages they serve one day every week. Students who would normally never go to high school are provided scholarships and talk of their dreams to be doctors, lawyers and, with our encouragement, president of Nicaragua. Scholarships are repaid via service to their communities as scholarship students serve as teachers for the younger children, providing benefits to both groups.

As I think about it, all these things add up to hope. These are vibrant, love-filled people who told us many times how much they appreciated our help. But the way I see it, our part is easy—they, with God at their sides, are doing the hard work themselves. Our commitment to them is one that will return much more than we invest.

MARK V. K.:
The resounding faith of the people we met in Nicaragua really amazed me. Despite the depth of poverty (or perhaps because of it), these people leaned heavily on their faith and made it a part of their lives in a way that we don't often see in this country. And they are so happy, despite their economic circumstances. They have so little, and yet they have so much.

Rainbow Network's programs have made such a huge difference in the communities we visited. I really like the fact that Rainbow works in several different ways - addressing health, education, nutrition, housing, and economic development. Rainbow believes that all these elements are interrelated; to make a community better means working in all these areas.

And perhaps the best part of Rainbow's programs is that it is Nicaraguans helping Nicaraguans. The employees of Rainbow (network directors, doctors, health educators, teachers, etc.) are almost entirely Nicaraguan. And the communities themselves provide loads of volunteers. What we can provide is the resources for these folks to help themselves.

ADRIAN A.:
1) We were honored to meet the National Poetry winner in the last town we visited. She is a Rainbow Scholarship recipient, and without Rainbow's educational and mentoring programs, her talents may have never been exposed and encouraged.

2) All these families need is for a break in life, someone to open a door to opportunity. They never asked us to pity them or asked for handouts, but asked for an opportunity to help themselves. Rainbow Network provides an opportunity by opening a door, and the Nicas have taken full advantage of the support. Let me tell you that no Cordoba (Nicaraguan Currency) goes wasted.

3) We had the pleasure of meeting Cesar Estrella, the nominated community leader of San Andres housing project, has used his micro loans to start a Pulgeria (small store with basic need items like toiletries, basic food items, some cosmetics to mention a few), and then he used some of those profits to buy some pigs which he is breeding for self consumption and selling. He has also planted some fruit trees. This is the spirit of Rainbow at work, but trust me, Cesar Estrella is a self made entrepreneur; given different circumstances in his life, he would have been president of any company.

JOHN A. summed up the experience with this e- note:
Gentlemen: I really enjoyed participating in the Nicaraqua mission with all of you, and it was a very moving spiritual experience for me. It was also nice to get to know each of you personally. The hope, spirit and gratefulness of the people in such a depressed environment was truly amazing, and I am again very thankful for everything that God has provided to my family.
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BRD